Metro 08/03/15

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Ex-Comet drops heartbreaker See page 16

Skilled trades are hot again

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Former Wildcat pegged as starter See Sports M

By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com

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For some, they feel better by making someone else feel bad.

©2015 Hospice of Northwest Ohio

Bryan Golden See page 9

Parker Inks and his cancer-fighting mother Patty at the fundraising dinner in Gibsonburg. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/ HEHphotos.smugmug.com

Parker’s Purpose

Archie Griffin inspires at dinner

By Yaneek Smith Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Seven years ago, a third-grader from Fremont named Parker Inks did something that most of us could only dream of doing: he started a foundation with the idea that his community could help to raise money to help pay for local families’ medical bills. Since then, the organization that is named for Inks, Parker’s Purpose, has raised greater than $150,000 which has been given to over 200 families in Ohio in an effort to help them pay for their children’s medical bills and has spawned a movement that has raised awareness about the trials and tribulations with which families who have sick children must deal. Throughout his ordeal, Inks, now 16, has lived with muscular dystrophy for nearly his entire life, but has continued to serve as an inspiration for many in Northwest Ohio. To raise money for the cause, the organization, which is headed up by Todd Drusback, a Fremont native who works as a teacher and football coach at Rossford High School, has hosted local sports legends as keynote speakers at an annual dinner event. In recent years, the event featured Ohio State University football greats Eddie George and Coach Jim Tressel, and this year, Parker’s Purpose welcomed the only two-

You talk about a warrior? You could do a book about her life story and her fight.

Daphne Derden, Director of Career Technology at Toledo Public Schools, admits she does not necessarily agree with all of Governor John Kasich’s policies. But when it comes to directing new initiatives for education, she believes he is “awesome.” She says the jobs are going back to the trades — and it’s a different world of trades than it was in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. And, Kasich and the Ohio legislature are responding. “Even with the emphasis from a federal perspective, a state perspective, and a local perspective, this is a great time for career technology in that we’ve gotten so much support and attention right now,” Derden said. “Sometimes it’s overwhelming, but it’s been long overdue and I’m so glad this attention has come because it’s good for the economic health of our region.” For example, she says when House Bill 107 became law, it provided an incentive from the state to industry to partner with school districts. Companies can now get up to $5,000 per student to bring them into their industry and train them. In addition, she says House Bills 393 and 487 have made an impact, providing new ways to get high school diplomas and basically mandating that districts make sure students know they have options other than a college degree that they can pursue. The legislation even affects how a student can graduate high school. “We’re looking at things differently — the state is telling us we don’t have a choice,” Derden said, adding that TPS is already implementing new pieces to work with industry starting this fall. Because of the legislation, students can now get high school diplomas through three different methods, Derden said. They can use the traditional method, by completing end-of-course exams for academics such as English, Math, Science, and Social Studies; they can pass a remediation free score on their ACT test; or they can chose the career tech way — by demonstrating career readiness on work-key assessments or pass an industry recognized

time Heisman Trophy winner in Buckeye legend Archie Griffin. It was the largest crowd to ever attend the event, which was emceed by WTOL’s Jerry Anderson and Dan Cummins, with 401 attendees, a sign of its growing potency. Griffin, 60, who won college football’s top award in back-to-back seasons in 1974 and ’75, spoke at Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed in Gibsonburg about inspiration, and those who inspired him during his life. He referenced his faith in God, his high-school football coach, and his parents, who instilled within him the importance of getting an education and participating in athletics. And, Griffin talked about legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, who he credits for guiding him on the right path during his youth. Griffin referenced overcoming obsta-

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cles, something he did as a freshman when he started the season on the depth chart as the fifth running back before fumbling in Ohio State’s first game against Iowa and then forgetting to take his helmet onto the field with him when Hayes called his number the following week against Northwestern. However, Griffin swiftly moved past those mistakes, rushing for what was then a single-game Buckeye record of 239 yards in the victory over the Wildcats. That, he notes, was the most exciting moment of football in his life. Griffin would finish his first year with 867 yards on 159 carries and three scores before taking his game to another level in ’73 when he rushed 247 times for 1,577 yards and seven touchdowns. His two Heisman-winning seasons saw the Columbus native carry the ball 518 times for 3,145 yards and 16 scores as he made history and finished out his career with four Rose Bowl appearances. Tough times and setbacks Professionally, Griffin played seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, which recovered from back-to-back 4-12 seasons and a 6-10 campaign before persevering to make it to the Super Bowl in 1981. “In order to be successful,” Griffin told the packed house, “you’ve got to be able to deal with the tough times and the setbacks. Continued on page 2


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